MSNBC Makes History With Ratings Win

MSNBC beat rival Fox News as the most-watched cable network during prime time (8-11 p.m.) last week, attracting the most total viewers during the week of July 17-21.

It was the first time in the network’s history that MSNBC grabbed the weekday ratings crown, Nielsen indicated. The network has now beaten CNN among total primetime viewers 29 out of the last 30 weeks.

MSNBC averaged 2.34 million viewers in weekday primetime slots, which was slightly ahead of Fox News, which brought in an average of 2.25 million viewers.

“Year to-date, MSNBC is the fastest growing cable network in total viewers, adding 865,000 sets of eyeballs while CNN has lost 128,000 viewers over the same time period, according to Nielsen’s weekday primetime data,” The Wrap reported.

MSNBC also beat CNN for total daytime (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) viewers, as well as morning (6 a.m.-9 a.m.) viewers, thanks to Morning Joe.

The morning news talk show has beaten CNN’s New Day, which runs at the same time, for 30 weeks in a row.

The Hill columnist Joe Concha told The Wrap he believes MSNBC’s success has stemmed from being more transparent in their coverage, in that they don’t attempt to hide their progressive tilt.

He said having “true opinion hosts” during primetime slots “allows MSNBC to be more provocative” than networks like CNN. Trump’s comments against CNN have also made it difficult for that network to keep up.